Congjie Liang Obituary

BEIJING (AP) - Pioneering Chinese activist Liang Congjie, who helped found the country's first environmental organization, died last week at age 78.

According to Friends of Nature, the group he helped founded, Liang passed away Oct. 28. Services for him will be held Tuesday at Beijing Shitian Hospital.

Considered the first environmental nongovernmental organization to be legally recognized in China, Friends of Nature was created in 1994 by Liang and colleagues to raise public awareness about the country's vast array of environmental problems.

Liang, a historian who worked and taught at the Academy for Chinese Culture, decided to set up the organization after hearing about the activities of international environmental groups like Greenpeace and realizing that China had no domestic equivalent.

Friends of Nature has focused on the plight of endangered species like the Tibetan antelope and threatened forest lands, while working to raise environmental awareness at public schools and nurturing other environmental groups.

"Though we have achieved some important victories for nature, possibly FON's greatest achievement is helping to foster a growing network of grassroots environmental NGOs throughout China," the group said on its website.

The group said Tuesday's ceremony for Liang will be "simple and plain." It said that flower arrangements will not be accepted. Mourners planning to attend services were told: "Please first consider taking public transport."

BEIJING (AP) - Pioneering Chinese activist Liang Congjie, who helped found the country's first environmental organization, died last week at age 78.

According to Friends of Nature, the group he helped founded, Liang passed away Oct. 28. Services for him will be held Tuesday at Beijing Shitian Hospital.

Considered the first environmental nongovernmental organization to be legally recognized in China, Friends of Nature was created in 1994 by Liang and colleagues to raise public awareness about the country's vast array of environmental problems.

Liang, a historian who worked and taught at the Academy for Chinese Culture, decided to set up the organization after hearing about the activities of international environmental groups like Greenpeace and realizing that China had no domestic equivalent.

Friends of Nature has focused on the plight of endangered species like the Tibetan antelope and threatened forest lands, while working to raise environmental awareness at public schools and nurturing other environmental groups.

"Though we have achieved some important victories for nature, possibly FON's greatest achievement is helping to foster a growing network of grassroots environmental NGOs throughout China," the group said on its website.

The group said Tuesday's ceremony for Liang will be "simple and plain." It said that flower arrangements will not be accepted. Mourners planning to attend services were told: "Please first consider taking public transport."

Guest Book Highlights

"May the God of all comfort, bring comfort to the family and friends of Liang Congjie. We can look forward to a time when no one will "ruining the earth.""- Tom Smith (MD)

"To the family of Liang Congjie, Your father visited my home in Oak Park, Illinois in 1980 with Yen Min Foo and Frank Gibney to begin the first Chinese Encyclopedia. He came back again with Dale Hoiberg years later and was a good friend to my father..."- Larry Armstrong (Oak Park, IL)

"To the the family of Liang Congjie - May God give you peace and comfort through his word and the Lord Jesus Christ during this time of sorrow, I know that Liang will be missed by many."- R Golay (Nampa, ID)

"I never knew Liang Congjie but wish to give my greetings to his family and to the members of his environmental group. He was a really important leader in a country full of environmental challenges. Such a man deserves to be remembered by all the..."- Nancy Lively (Prague)

" Rest in peace Liang' sentiments to his family inside ones own serene china chant of prayers~ Thank you For helping to protect WildForest within China~ As with kindness metro,waves much more the PandaBear/wildlife.."- Victoria&Andrew VZj (Copenhagen~SLCValley////)